Drapery track and lubricator therefor



March 20, 1962 LINDNER 3,025,560

DRAPERY TRACK AND LUBRICATOR THEREFOR Filed March 28, 1955 Patented Mar. 20, 1962 3,025,560 DRAPERY TRACK AND LUBRICATQR THEREFOR Frank W. Lindner, 57 Benjamin Ave. SE.,

Grand Rapids, Mich. Filed Mar. 28, 1955, Ser. No. 497,029 2 Claims. ((11. lei-87.6)

This invention relates to a drapery track and lubricator therefor.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a lubricating means for traverse rods of draw curtains or drapery assemblies which may be applied thereto to be operated by the drapery hangers as they are translated along the traverse rod.

Second, to provide a drapery fixture assembly including a hanger way lubricating element which is conveniently assembled and operatively associated therewith in use without soiling the supported curtains or drapes.

Third, to provide a lubricating element adapted for use in drapery fixture assemblies as above set forth and one which may be very economically produced and is durable in use.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a drapery.

assembly embodying my invention with certain of the parts shown conventionally.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section on a line corresponding to 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the traverse rod lubricating element of my invention.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in section on a line corresponding to line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view on a line corresponding to line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on a line corresponding to line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

Drapery or curtain assemblies of the draw type frequently become noisy in operation or become difiicult to operate and have a jerky or uneven movement, as a result the hangers tending to grip the rods and also the hangers are subjected to undue friction and wear. The application of fluid lubricant in the form of grease or oil to the ways of the rods of these assemblies is objectionable as it is difiicult to apply and when applied is likely to soil the curtains or drapes. Further, the ways of traverse rods are commonly formed of thin sheet metal stock, one edge of the stock constituting the way and do not retain such lubricant.

In the accompanying drawing 1 represents the curtains or drapes, 2 a traverse rod and 3 a supporting bracket thereof. The traverse rod 2 is formed of sheet metal and is of general shape, the edges 4 and being spaced to provide a longitudinal slot 6. The lower edge 4 constitutes a slide way for the drapery hangers 7 and 8, the hanger 7 being commonly designated the master hanger. These hangers are commonly arranged in sets to support two drapes or curtains and pull cords 9 are arranged to simultaneously open or close the drapes or curtains. The particular details of this arrangement form no part of my present invention and therefore are not further illustrated or described.

The drapes or curtains are commonly connected to the hangers by hooks indicated at 10. It will be understood that the manipulation of the pull cords to draw the curtains or drapes or to open them results in the hangers being slidably translated along the traverse rod.

They are shown in extended position in the drawing but when curtains or drapes are drawn the position of the hangers are collapsed toward each other.

In the preferred embodiment the lubricating element 11 is of block like shape and is provided with a downwardly facing groove like recess 12 on its bottom edge slidably receiving or embracing the way 4 of the traverse rod. A similar upwardly facing groove like recess 13 receives the edge 5 of the traverse rod and the lubricating element 11 is thereby slidably retained on the traverse rod. The lubricating elements are positioned between an adjacent pair of the hangers to be translated along the traverse rod way by the hangers as the drapes or curtains are drawn and opened.

These lubricating elements are of form retaining solidity and in the preferred embodiment of my invention comprise a mixture of 30% to 40% paraffin wax, 30% to 40% microcrystalline wax and 20% to 40% of cotton filaments of substantial length. These filaments are mixed or dispersed throughout the body of wax. Cotton filaments are highly satisfactory as they are absorbent and of considerable strength. However, other fibrous material may be used. The filaments reinforce the body of wax so that the element is not likely to be broken in handling and the filaments also add substantially to the wear resistance of the element.

The wax efiectively lubricates the way, the element is resistant to wear and has a long life as there is no load on.the element other than its weight. The lubricating element is translated along the Way with each opening and closing movement of the drapes or curtains and maintains a uniform lubrication on the way. There is no drip or other soiling of the curtains and the curtains or drapes are not soiled even should they come into contact with the lubricating element.

These lubricating elements have a melting point well above atmospheric temperatures, the melting point being at least above F. The lubricating elements are assembled on the traverse rods at the time the hangers are assembled therewith.

Another advantage is that the lubricating elements may be handled without soiling the fingers so that in turn there is no soiling of the draperies as a result of hands coming into contact with the lubricating elements.

I have illustrated and described my invention in a highly practical embodiment thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fixture assembly comprising a traverse rod having a laterally facing longitudinal slot therein, the lower edge of which constitutes an upwardly facing drapery hanger way, a plurality of drapery hangers slidably supported on said way, and a solid rectangular block-like lubricating element retainingly and slidably engaged in said slot in said traverse rod in supported sliding engagement with said way and disposed between an adjacent pair of hangers to be slidably translated along the way thereby, said lubricating element being of substantially uniform material throughout and of a vertical width exceeding the width of the slot and having oppositely facing grooves in its upper and lower edges with which the lower and upper edges of said traverse rod slot are retainingly engaged, the bottoms of the grooves in the lubricating element being parallel and extending from end to end thereof, said lubricating element comprising throughout a mixture of 30% to 40% paraffin wax, 30% to 40% microcrystalline wax and 20% to 40% cotton filaments substantially uniformly distributed therein.

2. A fixture assembly comprising a traverse rod having a laterally 'facing longitudinal slot therein, the lower edge of which constitutes an upwardly facing drapery hanger way, a plurality of drapery hangers slidably supported on said way, a block-like lubricating element of vertical width exceeding the width of the slot in said traverse rod and having oppositely facing grooves in the upper and lower edges thereof retainingly and slidably engaged with the edges of said slot in said traverse rod disposed in slidably supported engagement with said way between an adjacent pair of hangers to be slidably translated along the way thereby, the bottoms of the grooves of said lubricating element being parallel and extending end to end of the element so that said lubricating element may be reversibly positioned in said traverse rod, said lubricating element comprising a. mixture of 30% to 40% parafiin wax, 30% to 40% microcrystalline. wax and 20% to 40% of fibrous filaments substantially uniformly distributed therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

2. A FIXTURE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A TRAVERSE ROD HAVING A LATERALLY FACING LONGITUDINAL SLOT THEREIN, THE LOWER EDGE OF WHICH CONSTITUTES AN UPWARDLY FACING DRAPERY HANGER WAY, A PLURALITY OF DRAPERY HANGERS SLIDABLY SUPPORTED ON SAID WAY, A BLOCK-LIKE LUBRICATING ELEMENT OF VERTICAL WIDTH EXCEEDING THE WIDTH OF THE SLOT IN SAID TRAVERSE ROD AND HAVING OPPOSITELY FACING GROOVES IN THE UPPER AND LOWER EDGES THEREOF RETAININGLY AND SLIDABLY 